Hundreds of thousands raised by Convocation Covid-19 Fund
EQUIPPED: Seven brand new Lenovo laptops were recently donated to CPUT students by American global corporation PerkinElmer during a handover event hosted by the CPUT Convocation Covid-19 Fund on the Granger Bay Campus
Friday, 09 October 2020
The CPUT Convocation Covid-19 Fund has announced that since its inception earlier this year it has raised donations to the value of R380 814.50.
The announcement was made by Convocation Executive member and the Fund’s Head of Campaign, Andiswa Mrasi, at a recent handover event on the Granger Bay Campus where seven brand new Lenovo laptops with bags were donated to students by American global corporation PerkinElmer. The donation is worth R50 352.
Mrasi said that the Fund received R53 700 via Electronic Fund Transfers and the online donation portal, three bursaries worth R204 000 and arranged for training on conflict management for the 53 Student Representative Council members to the value of R65 000. She added that the Fund also received a donation of R7 762, 50 for snacks and coffee.
“The fund was established in order to ensure that no student drops out of university due to lack of academic enabling resources,” explained Mrasi.
The Fund was officially launched in May by the Convocation in partnership with the Advancement Department and the Vice-Chancellor’s office to assist the institution in its attempts to save the 2020 academic year in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She added that an Institutional survey to assess the number of students not receiving support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Department of Higher Education Science and Training, CPUT or any other source was used to determine the recipients of donations and that final year students were given priority.
Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Vice-chancellor’s Office, said that the last six months were traumatic as lives were lost to the pandemic and that the big divide between the rich and the poor was exposed.
“I have to say thank you to our donors. While it’s easy for people to apply for donations many are not good at saying thank you,” added Hay-Swemmer. She concluded that no matter how small a donation is, it will impact change in the world.
Dianie Lamprecht, Senior Sales Specialist at PerkinElmer, said her company was privileged to pay it forward by contributing seven laptops with bags to CPUT. “I hope to contribute to CPUT again in the future,” added Lamprecht.
*For donations to the Fund use the Account Name CPUT Alumni, ABSA Account No. 40-6934-6192, Branch code 630305, Reference Covid and please email proof to covid@cput.ac.za.
Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: butanak@cput.ac.za
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